Sunrise Offers Neighbors Free Tickets To Rock Concert

April 10, 1994|By ROBIN BENEDICK Staff Writer

Weston and Bonaventure residents are getting something free from the city of Sunrise: Concert tickets.

Over the next few months, several rock 'n' roll bands that were popular in the 1960s and '70s will perform at Welleby Park in Sunrise. And the city is inviting its neighbors to the south to join the fun. No charge.

Residents from other Broward cities are welcome, too. But they have to pay $5 per ticket.

Next month, Juice Newton; Blood, Sweat & Tears; Gary Puckett and The Union Gap; and The Mamas and The Papas will perform at the second annual Concert in the Park series.

The bands will play on three consecutive Sundays beginning May 1. Residents can bring blankets and lawn chairs to the park at the corner of Northwest 44th Street and Hiatus Road.

Debra Rassner, an 18-month resident of Weston, said the free tickets are nice gesture in light of the recent disputes regarding water and sewer charges for Weston residents.

Sunrise provides water and sewer treatment for Weston and Bonaventure, but residents have complained that they were being unfairly charged. The dispute was recently resolved.

Rassner, 39, said she and her husband will probably be going to see Blood, Sweat and Tears. "This sounds like a good idea to me."

Sunrise City Manager Patrick Salerno said the concerts enable the city to offer families, adults and youths entertainment that isn't sports-related.

"We wanted to offer something to people where they could come on a Sunday afternoon and enjoy themselves," he said.

Last week, Sunrise residents and their neighbors in Bonaventure and Weston will receive forms in the mail to order free tickets for the three May concerts. The tickets will be made available on a first-come, first-served basis so residents should immediately mail back their forms.

Residents are asked to rank the groups they want to see from most favorite to least favorite and fill in their name, address and phone number on the form.

Sunrise residents can receive two adult tickets per household for each of the three shows, and can order additional adult tickets by providing copies of drivers' licenses to prove residency. There is no limit on tickets for children under 18.

Bonaventure and Weston residents can get free tickets to their first-choice show only. The same limits apply as for the Sunrise residents.

The ticket order form must be returned to the city with a self-addressed stamped envelope. Non-residents can buy tickets for $5 each at Ticketmaster outlets or by calling 523-3309.